Typewriter ribbon rejuvenator



Apr. 26, 1932' F. R. SWITZER TYPEWRITER RIBBON REJUVENATOR OriginalFiled May 2, 1929 Inventor i 12 Swizz?!" k M/lttomeys Reissued Apr. 26,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOYD B. SWITZER, OF BIRMINGHAM,ALABAMA, ASSIGNOB TO BIBIBONEW COMI'ANY, A CORPORATION OF ALABAMA'IYPEWRITER RIBBON REJ'UVENATOB R S S U ED Original No. 1,820,583, datedAugust 25, 1931,. Serial No. 859,988, filed May 2, 1929. Application forreissue filed October 30, 1931.

My invention relates to a device for rejuvenating and extending theuseful life of a typewriter ribbon and ribbons of similar apparatus andhas for its object the provision of apparatus of the characterdesignated which shall be simple of design and construction, economicalto manufacture, and which shall be effective to furnish an even supplyof moistening fluid to a ribbon throughout the length thereof andthereby greatly extend the useful life of a ribbon.

A further object of my invention is to provide a small, easilymanipulated device which may be readily employed from time to time asoccasion requires, to moisten a typewriter ribbon with a propersolution, and which shall be effective to evenly distribute themoistening fluid throughout the ribbon without an excess at any onepoint which would cause the ink to spread and the impressions of thetype to be blurred.

It is well known that the ink in typewriter ribbons in use soon driesout to such an extent that the impressions of the type become faint andthe ribbon has to be discarded and a new one supplied. It is also wellknown that this occurs when only a smallpercentage of ink in the ribbonhas been used up. Attempts have been made heretofore to apply to theribbon a suitable ink solvent which would remoisten the ribbon and makeavailable a larger percentage of the ink supply therein but greatdifficulties have been encountered in carrying out such an applicationin the way of supplying a uniform amount of the moisteningfluid to theribbon throughout its length. I have found that unless the ribbon bethoroughly and uniformly moistened throughout its length the impressionsmade from the type are uneven in appearance, varying from a faintimpression where the moistening is inadequate, to blurred impressionswhere there is an excess of moistening fluid.

These and other difficulties are overcome by my invention and Iaccomplish a uniform distribution of the moistening fluid throughout thetypewriter ribbon so that type impressions of uniform appearance areobtained from the ribbon and its useful life Serial N0. 572,149.

multiplied many times over what it would have been without the use of mydevice. In accordance with my invention I provide a pad of fibrousmaterial which is retained by a covering or wick of felt or otherequivalent material which is adapted to bear against the typewriterribbon and provide means whereby the wick is impregnated or saturatedwith an even supply of moistening fluid in the nature of an ink solventand this degree of saturation appears to remain substantially constantwhile the ribbon is drawn from end to end thereof over the face of thecovering so that the fluid is applied to the ribbon uniformly. When thisis done, the type impressions made with the ribbon are uniform and notblurred.

The moistening fluid is supplied to the back of the covering by means ofa reservoir packed with loose fibrous material, which material bearsdirectly against the back of the covermg and is retained in place by thecovering. This fibrous material is saturated with the moistening fluidand brings the same directly into contact with the back of the coverinopposite the ribbon contacting face thereo Preferably the covering is ofsuch thickness and texture as to complete the uniform distribution ofthe fluid by ca illary attraction. In addition, I employ a lling columnextending upwardly from the reservoir whereby the force of gravity aidsin supplyin v fluid to the covering. A convenient manna ly operablemeans is embodied in the device for holding the ribbon against the wickwith a uniform pressure when the device is in use. i

A device embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, wherein Fig.1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Fig.3.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding ofmy invention, myimproved moistening device comprises a reservoir 10 iii the loosefibrous material. The packing 14 which extends up into the fillingcolumn is saturated with a suitable moistening fluid n the nature of anink solvent. The fluid n the column 16 is aided by gravity in itscapillary flow through the fibrous material and into the covering 13.The quantity of fluid supplied is never enough to create a running ordripping of the fluid, but only suflicient to saturate the covering.

I have found that a fluid comprising substantially 85% mineral seal oil,6% neatsfoot oil, 4% glycerine and 5% methyl salicy] ate or oil ofbergamot to be a suitable mois tening fluid.

With the apparatus described, I have found that if a typewriter ribbon,shown at 18, is brought to bear against the saturated covering 13 in theopen face of the reservoir 10, and the ribbon is drawn from end to endacross the covering a uniform supply of moistening fluid is distributedto the ribbon throughout its length. In order that the ribbon 18 may beheld against the covering 13 with an even pressure, I provide a plate 19hinged to the upper edge of the reservoir 10 at 21 and provided with anupwardly extending finger piece 22 which latter is pressed forwardly bya spring 23. In use the ribbon 18 is placed under the plate 19 as shownin the drawings and is drawn across the covering 13. In manipulating thedevice, the filling column 16 also serves as a convenient handle, andbeing adjacent the finger piece 22, the plate 19 is easily operated toplace it over a typewriter ribbon.

While I have shown my 1nvent1on in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications, without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire therefore that only such limitations shall beplaced thereuponas are imposed by the prior art, or as are specificallyset forth in the appended claims.

It is understood that the term type writer ribbon, as employed in thespecification and claims, is intended to apply to equivalent apparatusemploying an inked ribbon to obtain type impressions.

What I claim is:

1. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir having anopening in one side thereof and being packed with loose fibrous materialsaturated with a moistening fluid, a covering of close fibrousmaterialdisposed across the opening, and a spring pressed plate hinged acrossthe opening and adapted to press the type-Writer ribbon against thecovering.

2. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir having anopening in one side thereof and being packed with loose fibrousmaterialsaturated with a moistening fluid, a covering of close fibrousmaterial disposed across the opening, a spring pressed plate hingedacross the opening and adapted to press the typewriter ribbon againstthe covering, and a filling column extending up wardly from thereservoir and having a packing of loose fibrous material saturated witha moistening fluid and bearing against the covering.

3. A portable moistener for typewriter ribbons comprising a reservoirhaving an opening in 'one side thereof and being packed with loosefibrous material saturated with a moistening fluid. a filling columnextendin upwardly from the reservoir and also packe with the loosefibrous material, a spring pressed plate covering the opening and hingedto the upper side thereof, said plate being adapted to press the ribbonagainst the open side of the reservoir, a finger piece for the plateextending alongside the filling column and a felt covering disposedacross the opening in the side of the reservoir and bearing against theloose fibrous material on one side and the ribbon onthe other.

4. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir for a moisteningfluid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and beingpacked with loose fibrous material, a. wick like covering disposedacross the opening, and in contact with the fibrous material, a platehinged across the opening, and adapted to press the typewriter ribbonagainst the covering, and means for accomplishing such pressure.

5. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir for themoistening fluid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereofand being packed with loose fibrous material, a wick like coveringdisposed across the opening, a plate disposed across the opening, and aspring adapted to urge the plate against the typewriter ribbon to pressthe latter against the covering.

6. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir for a moisteningfluid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and beingpacked with loose fibrous material. a wick like covering disposed acrossthe opening, means securing said covering to the walls of said reservoirto hold said fibrous material in place and a plate disposed across theopening adapted to press the type;

writer ribbon against the covering.

7. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir for moisteningfluid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and beingpacked with loose fibrous ma- 5 terial, a wick like covering disposedacross the opening, and detachably secured to the reservoir walls tosecure said loose material in place, and a plate disposed across theopening, adapted to press the typewriter ribbon against the covering.

8. A typewriter ribbon moistenercomprising a capillary pad, a holdertherefor, a plate hinged to said holder and a spring urgin said plateagainst a face of said pad, said pa including a body of fibrous materialand a wick like facing having its rear surface in direct contact withsaid fibrous material.

9. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a capillary pad having asubstantially flat face, a holder for said pad, a plate hinged to saidholder for urging a typewriter ribbon against the face of said pad, saidpad including a body of loose fibrous material, and a facing therefor ofwick like material, having its rear surface in direct contact with saidfibrous material.

10. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir for themoistening fluid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereofand being packed with loose fibrous material, a wick like facingdisposed across the opening, a cover disposed across the opening, and aspring adapted to urge the cover against the typewriter ribbon to pressthe latter against the wick like facing.

11. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a capillary pad, a holdertherefor, a substantially flat cover hinged to said holder and meansurging said cover against the face of said pad, said pad including abody of fibrous material and a wick like facing having its rear surfacein direct contact with said fibrous material.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FLOYD R. SWITZER.

